Rothschilds Donate New National Library

Rothschilds meet Prime Minister, pledge $150 million for new national library.

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Gil Ronen, 18/04/10 20:26 | updated: 21:16

The current National Library building

National Library website

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with Lord Jacob Rothschild and other members of the Rothschild family Sunday and thanked them for their pledge to donate more than $150 million for the building of a new National Library. The Prime Minister informed the Rothschilds of the government's decision to set aside a plot in Jerusalem's Kiryat HaLeom government complex for the construction of the library.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that, "Establishing a new National Library is an important part of our comprehensive plan to preserve Jewish heritage sites in Israel and strengthen our nation's heritage among the younger generation and future generations.”

The meeting between the renowned family of financiers and the Prime Minister was also attended by the Director of the National Library, representatives of the National Library, representatives of the “Yad HaNadiv” Rothschild Fund and the President of Hebrew University.

The National Library is currently located in the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University. It is currently housed in a relatively old building with outdated infrastructure and cannot offer its visitors services on par with many other modern national libraries. The new library will be furnished and equipped with advanced digital technology and will include large storage spaces and innovative display areas.

In accordance with the 2007 National Library Law, a National Library Company will be established for construction and management of the library. Fifty percent of it will be owned by the government, 25% by Hebrew University and another 25% by several government and public institutions.